Veronica.N

Hi guys, so for the past few weeks I've been having some issues with heartburn. I'm coming up to my 2 year band anniversary in September and have never had this issue before. It all happened when I got a fill after the 4th of July. I decided I was going to get a really good fill because I had never really been tight the almost 2 years I had my band...insurance issues, long story...it had been over 6 months since I had a fill previously, so I made sure to get at least 0.4cc's. I started to have heartburn, but I was putting down food fine, and I didn't want to go months again feeling hungry. So 2 weeks later I got a second fill of .5cc's, so now almost a whole cc in one month. I think I'm at 8.1cc's. It's been really difficult for me to find my sweet spot. My husband only needed like 5 or 6cc's for his band, and he was always full way before me Now we're even! I told the doc about my heartburn when I went to get the second fill, which she said was weird because I could still put down bread, white chicken, etc. I wasn't too tight, and I sure as heck wasn't eating any typical hearburn creating foods. She thought it was weird, but didn't seem to have an answer for it. It wasn't a big deal for me because I don't go through it often, but I've been having these spats of heartburn now with nausea, I just feel terrible. I don't want to go back to the old fill because I finally feel like I have a good adjustment (and no I'm not under eating). I really don't think it's tightness. I had a flatbread turkey sandwhich today, and although I had to eat it pretty slow, I was able to get through bread and white meat in about 15 minutes. Any idea what it might be?

I was thinking it might be a hiatal hernia, but I thought I was just being paranoid. I guess I'll ask about it next time I go in. I believe when I had my surgery originally I had the hernia but the doctor fixed it. Could it come back so quickly? And I don't think I have a UTI, I don't have any symptoms and I haven't been anywhere lately that I'd be prone to catching one like a public pool for example. I've also never had one before, so I wouldn't catch one easily. My sister has had UTI and she would get the common symptoms.

Unfortunately I don't have the time to prepare or money to buy fresher foods Whenever I mentioned frozen foods, my dietitian always told me to drink a lot of water, so my assumption was that the water helped with the sodium intake. Taking water intake aside, I have never gone over my daily sodium intake. I know because I add everything that I eat into myfitnesspal app, including things that have no calories (like the splenda I add in my coffee for example).

OK, so first the basics. 1) My band is 7cc out of 10cc. I feel restriction with fries, breads, fiberous veggies, etc, but I could benefit from another fill 2) My husband lost his job in January, and with that lost our health insurance. We don't have the spare funds to pay for a fill out of pocket. At this point, I've lost the majority of weight from the fills and staying away from hard to eat foods like fries and breads. I still ate bad occasionally, but for the most part it was portioned. My daily intake goes like this: BREAKFAST Protein Shake 13g Protein 150 calories coffee with Splenda and portioned cup of creamer 30 calories LUNCH Lean Cuisine or Smart Ones 14 to 26g protein 230 to 300 calories SNACK (If I'm hungry) Pre-packaged Apple Slices 30 calories OR 94% Fat free popcorn 1 cup 15 calories OR Japanese Nori slices 10 calories OR Snackwell's Peanut Butter Bars (I only eat these when I'm REALLY hungry, and I don't eat them too often) 8g protein 140 calories DINNER Pre Portioned skillet meals 15-25g protein 300-400 calories DESSERT (If I'm hungry...rare) Less than a tbsp of low fat peanut butter 3.5g protein 95 calories OR a Skinny Cow icecream 3-4g protien 100-140 calories My daily intake is about 1000-1200 calories. On the weekends I usually eat what I like, but I try to be concious of what I intake. For example, if I eat out and I want a burger, I'll have my bun scooped out, and instead of fries, I'll get a side of veggies. I DO NOT eat fast food on the weekends, and still watch calorie intake, stay away from icecreams, shakes, etc. I have an extremely busy work schedule trying to make the extra income we desperately need so that's why we eat a lot of frozen foods. I drink a lot of Water to offset the salt intake (I actually don't drink anything besides water, except my Protein Shakes of course, not even on the weekends!). I also exercise 3 times a week (though I wish I had time to do more), for about 45 minutes or so, burning around 450 calories per session. I bike, which I know is not the most intense workout, but at 255, my doctor told me to help protect my knees to stick to biking or swimming. With no pool nearby, I chose the bike. Maybe I might be able to switch to another machine, but unfortunately I don't have the luxury of seeing a doctor right now. After speaking to my nutritionist (the only tool I have available to me because I prepaid for her services), she told me she had no advice to give me! She said she's used to castigating people for their bad eating habbits, but that I wasn't doing anything wrong! I don't know if I should cut out my lax eating on the weekend (though I hope I don't have to! ), but this is just crazy! I'm 226lbs and the math should be behind me in loosing this weight! Another one of my issues is in the bathroom...Sometimes I don't get the urge for 2 or 3 days. I HATE greek yogurt, which is why I have the shakes for Breakfast, so yogurt is a no-go for me. I'm also taking Calcium supplements which my doctor suggested I take which I have heard can make you constipated. What I'm hoping is that anyone reading this can give me advice to boost my weight loss again (food changes, supplements, exercise regime change) and anything I can take or eat to help me be more regular. THANK YOU!!!!!!

Thanks so much Joanie! I'll try out Mirilax!! Hopefully it'll do the trick

I was really scared about my band and thinking I could never eat certain foods again. I remember freaking out thinking that I'll never have another slice of pizza or a bite of some birthday cake. Well thankfully my doc put those fears to rest and told me that moderation is key. Today to Celebrate finally being able to eat solids again in a grueling month+ of healing and prep my husband, friends and I went out to Chilis. I drank Water, no appetizer, no dessert. I bought myself a mushroom cheeseburger, took out the doughy parts of the bun, and made sure to have veggies on the side instead of fries. I ate Protein first, but found that after the burger I was pretty satisfied and didn't even get to the veggies. I was thinking about having 1 meal a week to let myself just eat what I want. I've never been big on drinking anything but water, or buying Desserts. What I worry more about is the fat/calorie content of the food I'm eating, especially when I go one day to eat something fattier like Taco bell or Mcdonalds. Of course I'll make smart choices and adjust my meals accordingly when I eat out, like I did at Chilis. Luckily, living in New York, any chain of restaurants has to label all their products on menus with nutritional facts by law, so it's even easier for me to make the right choices when I eat out. Do you think it'll make a difference eating out once a week? How often do you treat yourself?

One of my nurses who does my fills (who also happens to be banded) suggested I buy calcium gummies from Target, because they taste great and are cheap. I buy the "Adults' gummy calcium dietary supplement" by Up&Up for $7.50 for a jar of 100 gummies. I take one in the morning and one in the evening, and I LOVE them, they taste just like candy! I used to do chalky chewables before, and now that I found these I'm never turning back!

My band is about 1/2 way filled and I can eat popcorn easily, but I do have issues eating bread and fries.

I've been having hiccups randomly as well. Never when I have recently eaten actually...And I'm 2 weeks post op so no fills yet. I also have not been having any reflux. Don't know why I'm having random hiccups, they can get annoying.

good for you girl!!

So I was doing really well that the hospital released me fairly quickly. I checked in at 6 AM, surgery at 8 AM and officially released at 6 PM that same day. I thought all was fine. I had some pain while laying down (besides of course the incision wounds), but it started getting better as I passed gas late that night. I didn't have the best night, I kept waking up every 2-3 hours from pain (which I took meds for) or because of some necessity (toilet, walk, etc). I thought tonight would be much better...and I am so wrong. Here I am again, up at 4:30 in the morning. This night my problem was with breathing. I've been trying to use this plastic breathing machine the hospital gave me, and just practice breathing in deeply when it's not around. Up until this point I've been more or less OK. A few hours before I started going to bed, I don't know if it was because I did a little bit too much walking today, but I started coughing as if I had some 'congestion'. I could feel/taste a little mucous in my throat as the night progressed, but since then it's stopped. Now trying to fall asleep was hard. I keep getting this pain on my right side where my incisions are, but not on them. It's almost like it on the upper part of my rib cage. It really makes it hard to get comfortable, so I've already taken a few naps on the couch where I can sometimes find that comfort. Wherever I chose to sleep though, I would always wake up from not breathing. I've never had sleep apnea in the past and I don't know what to do. Maybe a position I can try or adding more pillows to one area? I'll try calling the hospital in the morning but I'd like to avoid going if I have to, if anyone has some decent advice. See, my hospital is in Manhattan, and the usual 15-20 minute commute home Friday night to my Queens apartment was over an hour due to traffic being held up by police men checking cars. That ride was hell...Anywho, if it was bad on 9/9, I'm sure going into Manhattan on 9/11 would probably be the craziest day ever and one I'd very much like to avoid.

Thanks guys! Great advice! Yeah...I didn't believe doctors when they told me every ache and pain was gas, gas, gas! Seems to be the culprit though! It's probably the only thing that's been bothering me lately. Even the pain from my stitches (getting up, sitting down, moving around) has become nothing more than a quick pinching feeling. I'll have to try a heating pad!

But I called the nurse, did what she said and I'm not having those symptoms anymore. Do you think it's that serious? I feel 100 times better, no more breathing problems. I honestly think it was just the position I was laying in plus the swelling. I don't have any more coughing or phlegm in my throat and I can breathe pretty deeply on my spirometer, and it's been like that 8-9 hours already that I'm feeling great.

Hey guys thanks for the quick response. I was able to talk with one of the nurses and she told me that it sounded like I had swelling which was constraining my air when I laid down. She prescribed some children's liquid advil for me and to prop myself up with some pillows in bed (like you said Jackie). Seems to have done the job, because I feel 100% better and was able to sleep 5 1/2 hours straight with no issues (longest amount of sleep so far)! I also feel a lot better from last night/early this morning as far as pain goes. I don't know if it's because I'm drugged up on pain meds and anti inflammatory meds or if I'm finally healing faster, but I feel great!! Thanks for all the support...I was kinda freaking out this morning lol.

Oh! I'll have to call my doc and ask about that! Seems like I've been feeling the same way. I've also been having a lot of pain and stiffness in my shoulders as well as my neck. I'm so tired but I just can't sleep! It's torture! I wish I had a recliner, it might make this a lot easier D:

My doc recommended a chewable or gummy vitamin, but that it is labeled as a "complete" daily vitamin. I think those mean like 100% zinc, iron, etc. A lot of gummies and chewables don't have that so read labels carefully. My dietitian wants me to take calcium eventually, but she says it's not urgent because I'm young and I'm a big milk drinker. Good luck with your healing process, I got banded yesterday, so I'm in the same boat.

My diet is really strict as far as what protein shakes I can take, and the one's you mentioned are unfortunately not on my list. My doc is being pretty strict about it. I agree with you on the muscle milk by the way. The taste for me is just OK, but the after taste is what really kills me, it's like having a mouth full of stamp glue for hours. I'm pretty happy with Glucerna though, very sweet and tasty. Wow, thanks for the recipe! I'll definitely have to try it out!